Restoring Your Carpet or Hard Wood.

Solutions to restoring your wood floors.

Wood floors are appealing to the eye and adds value to any home. In the early 70's carpet hit an all popular high and beautiful hard wood floor were covered and concealed. Finding hardwood floors that can be restored under an old carpet is like finding a treasure. Most older home were installed with a higher quality wood. Depending on the thickness of the floor will help determine the type of wood used. To help determine if you wood can be restored look at the wear layers. Check for stains in the wood where liquid has soaked through the carpet. many liquid stains can't be removed. Inspect what was used to install the carpet or linoleum. There are most likely tack strips and hopefully it has not been glued or it is not full of nails. The more minimal damage the better but don't get discouraged there are ways to patch up almost any floor.

Screening is a way to refinish an old floor. A buffing machine can be used as long as the damage is not through the protective clear coat of the wood. Scratches are scuffed away with less dust than sanding. There are also chemicals available that chemically sand the finish. Then you can apply a clear urethane coat over your buffed or liquid sanded floors. You can typically walk on them in about a day.

You can also hand sand the floors yourself. This will of course require more work but is more cost efficient than most other solutions. Make sure you clean in between the wood planks and gaps before you sand. After you have finished sanding apply a semi gloss poly to add a great finish.

Renting a high powered sanding machine that professionals use is another solution. This will create a lot of dust but will probably create the best finish. A power sander is more efficient, smooth and can sand better than a household hand sander.

I have seen examples where some people have just painted their floors with a darker color to hide stains and slight imperfections and have applied a gloss over the paint to give it some shine. It does look good and is a quick fix but I don't know how long this strategy will last if there is high traffic.

Keeping your carpet looking good.

There are many stains that come from a household. Pets, guests, kids and everything else. Stains are treatable as long as they have not been left to sit for a long period of time. The sooner they are cleaned the easier it will be to get the entire stain up. And remember no matter the stain never rub it always blot it.
There are different solutions to attacking a stain depending on what caused it.

For pet stains blot any access of liquid or the stain with a cloth. Mix dish washing liquid or detergent with water. Pour on the stain and use a new cloth to blot up the liquid. Next apply some undiluted vinegar to to the stain and continue to blot. Last use a damp sponge to apply water to the stain and continue to blot until the stain is gone.

For crayons or oil apply a dry cleaning solution to a damp cloth and blot. Rinse with water and repeat.

To remove juices, tea or coffee. Blot all remaining liquids and remove as much as possible. Apply some club soda to the stain and continue to blot. if this does not work try a small amount of dish washing liquid mixed with water.

To remove Ink from your carpet, clothing or furniture, spray your everyday hairspray on the spot and blot till removed. Repeat spraying with hairspray and clean with hot water when finished.

If you have a candle that has fallen into your carpet. scrape up as much wax as you possibly can. Heat the wax by laying a paper bag over the wax and heating the bag with your iron. Repeat and continue to scrape till gone.

There are also carpet rakes available that brush your carpet so that it does not appear to be matted down and is great for removing pet hair.

If you have major water in your home there are a few thing you can do to help save your carpet. Use a disinfectant to clean the water damage to prevent bacteria from the water in your carpets. Always well ventilate the room if you have any major water damage.
If the water is on certain sides of the room you can cut the carpet up and fold it back. Cut out the damaged padding underneath and replace after the carpet had dried. Remove all furniture. If there is no where to go with it find something to elevate it off the floor so that the carpet can dry underneath. Find an industrial strength fan to add air flow. Use a shop vac or carpet shampooer just to suck up any access water.

You can also add a dehumidifier to the space and it will help suck the moisture out of the room. If none of this helps you will have to replace your carpet.

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Simple tips to saving on your energy bill. Winterize your windows.

During the winter older windows have drafts and leaks that causes you the loss of money and cause an uncomfortable winter. By winterizing your windows you can save from 35 to 40 percent on your heating bill. As electric and gas prices continue to go up this can add up to be a good chunk of change. Sealing your windows is inexpensive comparing to the amount of heat that you can lose on you heating bill. Check your windows for leaks and drafts. If you live in a reagin with cold winters you may have storm windows on your home. Hopefully they are low E windows which works well with hot summers and colder winters. If you do you may want to replace your screens with storm windows before winter hits. Keep in mind the type of windows that you have. Each type has thier own problems. If you have a double hung window they provide the most ventilation so they are real prone to drafts and leaks.The older casement windows with the crank are actually one of the most efficient models out there. No matter what type of windows you have if they are older and you do not have plans to replace them then winterize them as best as possible. Take a look at the condition of the frame of the window. Dont be so worried about the glass itself. More problems are caused from the frame.
You can chaulk your windows and prepare them for winter. Watch the temp and the moisture outside when you prepare to chaulk. Pick a warmer clear day so that you get the best seal possible .It can be used on sections of the window that do not move. The inside of the window where the window frame meets the wall is the best place to chaulk. Chaulking is important for weatherproofing the outside of the window also. Use wood filler for bigger gaps and paint over the filler with an outdoor paint.
Weather stripping is one of the best ways to insulate your home for the winter. Angled strip weather stripping can be used on wood or vinyl windows. You just line the sides of the windows with the particular weather stripping for the type of window that you have. Kits are available at any home improvement store.
You can also plastic your widows and shrink wrap them. Using a heat source such as your hair dryer will shrink the wrap till it becomes smooth. You can purchase a kit to do this or you can use regular household materials like sided tape regular kitchen plastic wrap. Place the double sided tape along the sides of your windows and use the same technique with the hair dryer till it also becomes smooth. Do not hold the hair dryer to close to where you create holes in the plastic or it will be like starting all over again.
Just these few techniques will save you on your next heating bill. This will also make your home a little more comfortable when you do not have to feel the drafts in the dead of winter.
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Grasscloth Wallcoverings

The selections for wallpaper and wallcoverings are becoming innovative wth a bigger selection of more modern styles and patterns than ever before.
There are new textured wallcoverings available that can transform any space into a real eye popper. Wallcoverings are great for covering wall imperfections. There are many colors and styles to choose from. There are warm subtle colors to dark rich tones. Contrasting textures make these wallcoverings a beautiful focal point of any space. Grasscloth is also a great noise absorber. When using these wallcovering think about covering only one main wall or creating a backdrop and finding a great paint for the remaining walls to really bring the texture out. Find great Accessories to create the style you want. Use great lighting tricks to really bring this wall out. They are a strippable paper and you can use a low- water content adhesive to apply it to your walls. Using a clear adhesive would probably be your best bet. Grasscloth wallcoverings are easy to clean, vaccumable and are made from all natural fibers so they are better for the environment. There are many materials available. Arrowroot, Bamboo, Cattail, Reed, sisal and seagrass are just a few beautiful materials to choose from. Rolls are mostly sold in 36 inches x 8 yards in height. I have found them available anywhere from $30.00 a roll to $70.00 but keep in mind they are priced as a single roll and sold by a double package so apply some research to your purchasing process. Take a look at these great materials to add a natural sense to your space.

Helpful Tips to Save your Furniture.

Before you decide to get new furniture. Make sure that it cannot be repaired before you spend to have it hauled off and purchase new.

Leather and Vinyl:

There are many little tricks that can be done to repair and restore leather or vinyl furniture. If there are tears or holes in the leather or vinyl there are kits that can be purchased to do repairs. These kits can be pricey so purchase exactly what is needed to get the job done. There are glues available that will hold the seams. Its a quick repair and may not hold over time. A grain mold compound can be used that will take the exact shape of the grain of your sofa so that it will match perfectly. These compounds also go with a catalyst to cure the compound. These can only be used in low traffic or low flex areas of the sofa. There are touch up markers available in many shades to blend in with the rest of the sofa. These are used where your furniture had a lighter look and has ware. There are many cleaning products available that remove stains and resist water, oil, and alcohol products. If a child has marked on your furniture there are also products available especially for ink but try some hairspray to take the ink out first. Most of the time it will work.

Cloth:

For cloth there are kits available where you mix fibers until they match the sofa fabric. There is no heat required and you just allow it to dry. These kits are not made for major tears. They are just made for little patch jobs. But they are a lot cheaper than buying new or sending in a cushion to have it replaced by the original manufacturer. You can sew fabric with a hand needle if you are good enough for the sewing job not to be noticeable. Make sure you use the appropriate cleaner for the fabric. The best thing for alcohol stains is colorless dishwashing liquid and some warm water. If that doesn't work use 2/3 cup water and 1/3 cup white vinegar to remove the satin. Test on an area of the sofa that is not visible. Never let a stain sit. Try to get it as soon as possible. You can also just purchase a new slip cover to fit snug on it and you can pull it off and throw it in the wash as needed. Slipcovers are great for a budget friendly change in appearance. They allow the furniture to match any color of paint on the walls. There is always the option of upholstering the sofa and love seat yourself. But that would be a huge chore. Call the original manufacturer and order fabric from them and just replace the bad sections and not the whole thing.

Chairs are easy to change. Pull the cushion off and lay new fabric right over the old fabric pull tight and staple to the bottom of the seat. There are really nice buttons and tacks available to create a different look to any furniture. Find trim, gimp, chair braid or welt cord to make your own welt to add a decorative touch to your furniture. Create a headboard to match a bedroom. Use batting, fabric and ply wood. Dress up your old lamps with a real light weight fabric to match the rest of your space. If you decide to do these project use your left over fabric to create table runners for your coffee tables and night stands

Wood:

Everyone spends some major money on quality wood. Here are some small things to save your wood furniture. For water rings on your tables try using a mild abrasive toothpaste. Apply it with the grain of your wood. Rub it with a soft cloth till you see the stain disappear. Repeat till gone. You can also use a colored oil stains to camouflage scratches. There are also touch up markers that come in many wood shades and crayons that you can just rub into the scratches and dents to hide them. Buff and polish your wood regularly to protect it.

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Home Improvement Stocks are Rising

Buyers are taking advantage of the low interest rates and the $8,000 tax credit that will expire in December this year. Buyers are finding great deals on new homes and properties nationwide. The Mortgage Bankers association has a listing that shows a downfall in interest rates that are currently sitting at 5.15% for 30 year loans and 4.52% for 15 year loans.
Americans are working towards updating their homes to take advantage of this years economic crisis in the real estate slump. The trick is selling their existing homes. Sellers are doing quick fixes to help ensure that they retain the value of their home and generate a quick sale.
Lowe's home improvement stock is up 1.69% and is opening new stores in Pennsylvania, New York, Louisiana, North Carolina, and California. Home Depot currently has 2,200 stores in the United States and states that their stocks are up .29 (1.07%) as of 8/25/09. Sellers are looking for the proper selling strategies and updates to seal the deal.

• Having the proper curb appeal is a must.
• Have a clean yard with updated rock or flower beds.
  
• Power wash the patios and Windex the windows for a clean appearance.
• Welcome mats add an inviting feel to the main entrance.
• Slap a fresh coat of paint on all doors and shutters.
• Touch up the trim around the windows with some matching paint to brighten the appearance.
  

• Fix leaky faucets or replace old ones to update the bathroom or kitchen.
  

Buyers create a mental note of all the small things that have to be fixed as they walk through. Anything that creaks or sticks is directly added to that buyers mental list.

• Remove all clutter and unnecessary or mismatching accessories.
  
• Find things that compliment the space. Remove bulky furniture for space.
  
• Smell is number one. Remove any signs or smells of pets. Empty the trash before a showing.
  

Dutch Boy has just released a new paint called Refresh. This new paint takes the smell out of almost any wall. Having neutral colors on the wall is best and this is a good chance to whack out both issues with one shot.

• Having everything clean is a must. No one wants to buy someone left dirt.
  
• Pay attention to the appearance of the floors, counter top in the kitchen and the overall appearance of the bathroom.
  
• Counter tops are a great investment. This is just to give an updated appearance. Quartz counter top replicates granite and is a third of the cost.
• If the cabinets are outdated a coat of paint and new knobs will really help out. The kitchen is a key point in any home. It can make or break a sale.
  

More contractors are bidding out jobs just to stay open and not to draw a big profit. It is more affordable to have home improvements done if the seller does not wish to do the work themselves.

• Adding a new fridge will increase value dramatically. Stainless steel gives the appearance that the other appliances are updated also. This is an investment that sellers get in return upon sell.
  

This may seem like a big time consuming list but when the property sells it all pays off in the end. As the weather starts to get cold buyers and sellers are less likely to make a move. If the tax credit ends in December time is running short. As America rises from its down turn interest rates will flare. Property value will sky rocket. Taking advantage now if possible can be a great investment and ensure a lower payment in the future.

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Tin Backsplash is a great new product that gives the appearance of tin but is actually plastic. This is a very affordable way to update the backsplash in any kitchen. The panels are thermoplastic and come in 18 X 24' pieces. There is a variety of colors and patterns that are available on the market. These great panels come in Silver, Bronze, Copper, and Smoked Pewter. They range around $20.00 a sheet but it does not take much to apply them. They work behind the stove as long as there is a four inch range between the tile and the heat source.

A tin backsplash can be applied right over old wallpaper and ceramic tile and only takes a few hours to accomplish. They can also with stand repeated washings as long as a harsh abrasive is not used. Dish washing liquid should do the trick.

• Clean the surface and remove all grease.
• Remove all outlet covers
• Cover your countertops to protect them.
• Measure the space that you are aiming to cover.
• Use a carpenters square and a marker to keep your lines straight.
• Mark off your measurements on the back side of the backsplash.
• A utility knife or a good pair of scissors can be used to cut this product.
• Determine the space where your outlets will be and cut the hole using the utility knife.
• Apply a generous amount of construction adhesive about two inches away from the sides of your sheet. You can go to the top under your cabinets. Make a square box with an X in the middle with the construction glue and apply your piece.
• Keep good pressure on your piece to allow a good bond.
• You can by sheets that stick right to your light cover that you can cut so that your light covers will match.
• There is edge trim and inside corner trim that applies to the edges to get a nice finished look.

Instead of adhesive you can also use double sided sticky tape if you are a person who likes to make changes often. This alternative solution will save your wall from all the glue and allow you to easily remove the tiles at any time. But if you want it to last over along period of time I suggest the glue.

This is a quick reference on how to install these tin sheets but you will be amazed by how easy they are.

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Curb Appeal

The Best Ways to Give your Home Curb Appeal.

#1. Apply a fresh coat of paint to your front and side doors to brighten up or change the look of your home. Adding a new door handle to compliment your new style is great. You can also sand down and paint your old shutters or outdoor window fixtures to match. This easy project will make a dramatic difference.

#2 Replace old lighting on the outside of your house. If you shop around you can really find some good deals so that this won't cost you as much as you think. I have seen nice outdoor lighting at my local hardware store for as cheap as $25 a set or you can search online.

#3.Take the time to resurface any old concrete walkways or patios. You can purchase products that will spread right over your remaining concrete and set nicely as long as you do a good cleaning of dirt and yard wastes before application. This will help bring a new look back to your older home.

#4. Change your address numbers on the front of your house with a new stylish set. There are many decorative plagues that you can find to arrange your new numbers on. They have oval, rectangle, gold, silver or just about anything that you want and they create a real decorative touch.

#5. If your gutters are still functional and they are just a little drab. Make a warm bucket of water and cleaning solution and wipe them down. Get out your spare white outdoor spray paint and don't be scared to touch them up.

#6. if you want a change in your front yard but kill every plant you touch create a maintenance free rock garden. Once you place it in you don't have to touch them again. Pick up some brick edgers and lay out the brick in the design that you want. Use landscaping cloth to lay underneath your rocks to prevent weeds and grass from growing through. You can replace old dead flower gardens, along your walkway or down the side of the driveway. Keep in mind that you do not have to keep a straight pattern. Use your imagination and be creative. Curve it around the base of your side walk or make a large curve to add a statue or big boulder. Place them in a circle around the base of a tree. After you lay the edgers. Fill the beds with any type of matching rock you like. You can get it by the bag but it can be significantly cheaper if you can find a place that sells it by the truck load.

#7 Remove any dead plantation or evasive trees that just look sloppy and take over. This will really help clean up your yard.

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197 Ways to Improve the Curb Appeal of Any Home

Increase the value of your property and get the unexpected profit from the sale of your property. Make the most of your homes appearance by following this easy-to-do tips in this guide

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